Consumer Electronics Show Becomes Live Case Study

Students to Learn First-Hand about Emerging Technologies and Business Models

Imagine starting your graduate program with an immersion into a range of emerging technologies exhibited in 2 million square feet of space, hosted by more than 3,600 global companies, and including approximately 20,000 new product announcements. This is how the incoming Masters in Technology Management cohort will begin the 16-month journey through their graduate program!

Their first "classroom" experience will include the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas as a live, case study environment for the HiTech Business Models course. The students will spend three days at CES exploring the exhibits for technologies big and small, evaluating their likely impact, considering alternative innovative use of these technologies, and examining their business context. They will meet face-to-face with the exhibitors who are leading technology innovators and learn about the emerging technologies and innovations in key market segments such as automotive electronics, computing, telecommunications and infrastructure, robotics, sensors, wearables, and 3D printing.

"CES is the most influential technology event of the year," says J.P. Auffret, director of Executive Degree Programs. "It provides invaluable exposure to cutting-edge product launch demonstrations and keynote addresses by CEOs from major technology companies."

The long list of products first announced at CES includes: the VCR, CD player, HDTV, Microsoft Xbox, digital satellite systems, driverless car technology, and IP TV. Increasingly, CES also has a focus on industry verticals such as technology in cars and technology in healthcare.

The goal is to use this residency course as a vehicle to learn about:

Emerging technologies, technology evolution and innovation

Potential applications of these technologies

The impact of emerging technologies on business models

The role of platforms and standards in technology product strategy

Marketing and branding strategies

Technology's impact on consumers, industry and society

"I can't think of a better way to introduce the students to our program, which couples business skills with technology knowledge," says Kumar Mehta, academic director of the Master's in Technology Management program, who will be leading the course. "We expect this initial technology immersion to provide a rich foundation for the entire 16-month program, which is not just about legacy and traditional IT but also about how emerging technologies will create challenges and opportunities for different organization's IT leaders."

George Mason University School of Business

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top 10 percent of all AACSB accredited business schools, the School of Business is one of only 25 percent of business schools accredited in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.